Sports court donated to Woodcrest Elementary School

Woodcrest Elementary Principal Judi Kahoun helps students with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Oct. 11 at a dedication for the school’s new sports court. Photo courtesy of Jim Elert

Students, staff, a representative from Hoffman Weber Construction, Inc., and volunteers from Emmanuel Christian Center in Spring Lake Park gathered Oct. 11 at the court for a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 40- by 60-foot court, located just south of the school building, was donated by Hoffman Weber.

“It seemed like a good way to give back,” said Joe Hoffman, president of the Fridley construction firm, in an interview.

Hoffman was raised in a nearby trailer park and was aware of the school and neighborhood needs.

Cost for the court, made of suspended honeycombed plastic, was $5,000.

Volunteers from Hoffman Weber and from the church installed the court. The school has a student mentoring partnership with Emmanuel Christian Center.

Hoffman learned Woodcrest had applied for a grant for the court and had been turned down. He further learned of the school’s needs from a pastor at ECC.

“So we decided to step in,” he said. “We figured it was our duty to step in.”

His company’s mission is to give to people who can’t help themselves and don’t have the resources, specifically, children, he said.

Woodcrest, a K-3 school, will use the court for recess and physical education classes, Principal Judi Kahoun said in an interview.

“We know our community uses it when school is out of session,” she said. “On any given night, there can be up to 50 youth from the neighborhoods using the sports court and, then, playing soccer in our fields.”

The Woodcrest situation is a common for the majority of our schools in Zimbabwe. I am looking for funding to have a recreational centre at one of the high density schools in Harare. This would not only benefit learners, but the community as a whole. Plans are also under way to teach golf with construction of a chipping area, putting and a driving range. Formal admission to the centre will be on a 50-50 basis, thus also promoting the needs of the girl child.
Zimbabwe is in Africa
Any takers out there?